The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-05-07

bureau but the hair brush and comb
Stop. yes. there was. There was parce
wrapped carefully and addressed-witl
Manda's own initials. "A. H." Wha
was it? A surprised How nice, Mami
looked again. "To-A. H." Yes. sh'
was not mistaken. Amanda Hardy. o
course. With trembling fingers she un
fastened the wrapping.
"Oh. Oh. OH
Manda was only woman. and only
seventeen.
"A valentine, What a perfectly beau
| tiful valentine. Who could have" ant
then as she turned it over she caugh
sight of:''From your most true and faith
full job Wcstcott."
Manda took the valentine in one hand
the lamp in the other. and sat down OIL
the side of the bed 1t was really an ar
tistic piece of work. A beautiful land
scape delightfully."- painted. Then thu
elegant nest of swans down. Then
what was most important of all-th'
poetry. She had not at first perceived
this. Thus it was all the more en-
trancing:
Beloved. Aye, truly this thou art;
Beloved i'm name"
Manda nodded her head joyously.
''He knew my name means beloved.
Oh, he is very talented always though
him intellectual. But who would hav,
dreamed of his sending me such Lowell,
thing. He blushed at the supper table
Does he really care much for me, won
der, But. then. | didn't think I'd evel
given him much encouragement
Dear little guilelcss Manda. Quite
pretty enough for any young farmer, OF
indeed for many a city chap. Sparkling
gray eyes; splendid chestnut hair: dim
pies. red lips and a smooth white brow
Plump, sweet-tempcred and true-hearted
She fell asleep signing family over the
innocent problem: Did job mean to
propose to her some day. And if Sc
what would she answer him."
She oversight herself the next morning.
and consequently the men folks" were
all through and gone out to work when
She took her breakfast.
They're fixing roads and fences" ex-
planned Mrs. Westcott That's how
llitN Ol IMAM uNudl. GU hUOW
we don't gener'ly keep two hired men
this time of year; but there's extra work. y
Mandy blu>hcd and spoke Shyly: THE
valentine job gave me was perfectly love
ly. was so surprised and pleased, II
was awfnlly good of him to think of it. y
Mrs. Westcott looked puzzled.
"A valentine9 Did job give you one.'
"Why, yes; didn't you know what was
in the parceli"
I'm the parcell' Mrs Westcott con,
tinued, puzzled.
Eyes. in the parcel you told me was
very particular on the bureau-don't
you remember, last nightl"
ION the bureau? o, YES. of course"
Poor Mrs. Westcott, She knew that
there was some mistake. She was not
quite certain what it was: but some one
had Numbered" Being IA woman. she
had sufficient tact to wait and see.
THE poetry" said Manda, was very
pretty indeed, and the painting-whv,
now, honestly, Mrs. WcstcOtt, didn't YOU
know-haven't you looked at it?'
III go up now and take look at it. "
said the elder lady. 1t had suddenly
dawned upon her that an unfortunate
souvenir of the Humphreys girl affair
had been left in the spare chamber.
Manda remained to finish her break
fast. Just as his mother slipped up stairs
Job entered
To him Manda, crimson as Jacquemi-
not:
Il am so much obliged for the valen-
tine. Mr.. Westcott. 1t was perfectly
beautiful. And it was so thoughtful ,
you. | was just telling your mothd-
She's gone up to look at it. supposed.
of course. she had seen it. especially as it
was she who told me last MI ht about it
being on my bureau and cautioned me
NOT u nniSS Enl;nor Il IL IL -